Preface
I have been seeing a lot of media buzz about Canada’s current relationship with India. Considering Canada has historically had a relatively stable relationship with India, I found this news to be intriguing. While researching the current conflict, I found the precarious situation to be very interesting and also closely intertwined with Western roles in development/international relations issues.
This is an important topic to learn about simply because it is a major current event, but also because it’s a current example of how Canada interacts with social strife in other countries, particularly cultural and religious divides. Read below for the basics on this conflict and I will, as always, cite any references for further reading and credit where credit is due.
What Happened
In June of 2023, a man named Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot and killed in Surrey, B.C. (Tasker, 2023). In September of 2023, Justin Trudeau made a speech claiming that there is some sort of evidence that the Indian government could be involved in Nijjar’s murder (Tasker, 2023). Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, quickly and angrily denied this accusation. India proceeded to withdraw their diplomats from Canada and vice versa, as well as halt the issuing of travel visas for Canadians to enter India (Tasker, 2023).
This issue is a rarity in international relations disputes, as it is not often that countries become directly involved in these kinds of conflicts. Overall, the public insult of the Indian government by Justin Trudeau is bizarre. Also, the idea that India was involved with the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian land is quite out of the ordinary. If there is merit to these claims, this crime disobeys the United Nations Charter that states no member should “threaten or use force on another country’s land” (CBC Kids News, 2023). So, you can see how this event is newsworthy and causing considerable outrage.
Watch this minute-long clip of Justin Trudeau’s Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMnp-VjZqRk
The Backstory
There is more to the story behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This man was well-known in the Sikh community as a religious leader, both in Canada and India. However, he was a very controversial leader because he was a known pro-Khalistan activist (CBC Kids News, 2023), meaning he advocated for an independent nation solely for Sikhs. Those who are a part of this group believe that the Sikh minority religious group should have their own territory separate from India called Khalistan.
This idea has not been well-received by the Government of India. The movement has been outlawed and Nijjar was ruled as a terrorist in 2020 (CBC Kids News, 2023). The rest of the separatists that are part of the movement have good reason to be on high alert both in India and Canada. There has been an ongoing strain on the Canada/India relationship given that many separatists reside in Canada. Further, the Canadian government has received backlash from India in the past, as Canada is home to many leaders and members of the separatists movement. There was considerable violence and conflict accompanying the separatists, so, many left India and now reside on Canadian Soil (DeLaire, 2023).
This is a cause of tension between the two countries because Canada is viewed as somewhat of a safe haven for separatists. Therefore, a safe haven for terrorists and criminals in the eyes of the Indian government (DeLaire, 2023). However, Canada maintains sovereignty and upholds the right to freedom of expression, regardless of its growing reputation as a country where terrorism is accepted.
Current Relationship
Presently, the relationship between Canada and India holds steady. India has resumed issuing travel visas to Canadians, although Canadian diplomats have not returned to India. Economic relations have also been maintained (CBC News, 2024). That being said, in my opinion, this is a precarious situation in terms of mobility rights and freedom of expression/speech. If an individual or group is deemed a terrorist in one country, is it right that another country keeps them safe? On the other hand, is India entitled to take matters in to their own hands if the allegations are true? This issue is most definitely not black and white. It highlights the delicate balance that each country must maintain while respecting the rights and values of other regions while also upholding their own rule of law.
Key Terms
Diplomat: a diplomat is someone who resides internationally and represents the interests of their home country in their host country
Sovereignty: is the right and power that a state (country) has to govern itself and its citizens without foreign interference
Sources
CBC Kids News. (2023, October 23). Tensions are high between Canada and India. Here’s why. Kids News. https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/tensions-are-high-between-canada-and-india-heres-why
CBC News. (2024, January 10). Will Canada’s relationship with India improve in 2024? | Power & Politics [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHJYl0z0pIs
DeLaire, M. (2023, October 4). Canada-India tensions: How we got here and what’s at stake. CTVNews. https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canada-india-tensions-how-we-got-here-and-what-s-at-stake-1.6589053
Tasker, J. P. (2023, September 19). Trudeau accuses India’s government of involvement in killing of Canadian Sikh leader. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-indian-government-nijjar-1.6970498
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